Whole lotta nutrition talk all around here at the SC Dietetics Association Annual Meeting.
Lauri says hi 🙂
I didn’t get very much sleep last night – perhaps 7 hours? Matt was up at 2:25AM to head into work and I had trouble going back to sleep knowing I was getting up myself shortly. My alarm went off at 5 and I was up, showered and brewing coffee by 5:45. I needed something to tide me to breakfast.
Spring Blend!
You know those dancing playing cards in Alice In Wonderland? (The old one?) This is the 4 of Spades!
1.5 hours of crazy driving later (carpooling!) we arrived in Columbia.
I was excited to see not only a seated breakfast, but an oatmeal topping buffet!!! Conference breakfasts are hit or miss- either pastries and fruit or a nice balance of whole grains and options and some good protein if you’re lucky. I packed a Great Harvest muffin and a yogurt as back up, but decided the oatmeal with toppings was put out just for me
Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Cinnamon + Sugar, Cranberries + Raisins, PRUNES!, Pecans
The muffin was devoured by all the ladies at my table! (I shared)
My oatmeal had a little of all the toppings (minus sugar 🙂 ) I mostly ate the toppings – the oatmeal was plain old plain.
Took a few sips of this probiotic drink. It was mostly sugar water with probiotics. Give me Greek yogurt please! The talk on probiotics was pretty interesting. They are good for you! Eat up.
Took a few swigs of OJ – and shared an Alliebar with Lauri!
One thing I learned in the probiotic talk. [And disclaimer that this was mentioned in a few sentences and I did not read a whole study on it – I need to find one though!].
You know how people always say "You shouldn’t drink milk/dairy because it creates mucus in the GI tract"? I’ve never heard anything about mucus in my courses, but the presenter today said that mucus is actually protective because it acts as a barrier in the gut for the harmful bacteria. Healthy flora in the gut act as a wall – kind of like a soccer team lines up a wall for a free kick. The harmful bacteria are then prevented from getting into the blood and causing infection and sickness. From what I understood today, mucus acts the same way. So probiotics increase mucus, thereby increasing immune protection.
Just finished up a session on Media Messages (blogging!) The presentation was pretty basic – you guys already know all about Twitter and Facebook 🙂
Heading to one on Lactose Intolerance next!
[There’s no wireless here – GRRRR – but I was able to upload from the business center, so I should be back at lunch!]
Hope y’all are out enjoying the sunshine for me!
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs says
Good info on probiotics! I’d love to know your take on the drinks though – like Yakult. I’ve read about studies where there has been no improvement in healthy bacteria in the gut etc by drinking them, yet they obviously have some scientific basis. Do you know much about it? I always wonder if I should drink probiotic drinks, but I’m worried it’s just ££ down the drain,,,
Have a good afternoon anyways 🙂
Kath says
I’d say just eat good ole yogurt!
Carrie @ I See Monsters says
Interesting. I’m lactose intolerant (and therefore had to give up my beloved Greek yogurt, sigh) and so will be interested to hear about your next session. Did they mention anything about how to get probiotics if you can’t eat yogurt?
Molly says
coconut milk kefir is my favorite way!
rebekah (clarity in creation.) says
carrie- i’m lactose intolerant as well (to the point i throw up after eating it… sorry tmi!) and if i take a lactase capsule i am totally fine!
i get them at walmart in a big box, and they’re super cheap. you might wanna try it! i can eat greek yogurt all day with them 🙂
Carrie @ I See Monsters says
Rebekah – I actually used to do that when eating dairy, and it was OK for the most part. I decided to give up most dairy for my “new year’s resolution” because I was still having some distress, and I feel so much better in general now that I don’t eat yogurt every day. I still eat small amounts of cheese, but I think I’m off daily yogurt for good. It is so delicious, though! I’ve learned to love my morning smoothies and homemade granola with soy milk and fruit instead. 🙂
Kath says
I honestly can’t remember 🙁 I wasn’t paying too much attention cause I was eating breakfast
Daniel says
I hope you have tons of fun and learn lots there! I’m so excited for my first Wisconsin Dietetics Association conference on the 29th-30th this month! I checked out the menus for the day along with the seminars and they’re going to have an oatmeal breakfast buffet as well.
Enjoy your conference!! ^_^
Tina says
That probiotic drink looks a little sketchy, I think I would rather take a probiotic pill if I couldn’t have yogurt.
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
That’s very interesting! Welcome to good ole SC by the way.. haha.
Nicole @ Making Good Choices says
That is so interesting that it is protective mucus. I always hear about people giving up dairy, but I just love milk, yogurt and cheese too much so I’m glad I am doing some good while eating it!
ZenLizzie says
I’ve always tried to ignore the messages to stay away from dairy because it is one of my top three favorite food groups 🙂 But, it is good to know that maybe some scientists and people much smarter than me think it is OK.
runnerforever says
What an awesome assortment of oatmeal toppings, I am so jealous!
jaclyn@todays lady says
I love how they had oatmeal instead of a buffet of pastries and cookies!!!! So interesting about the probiotics!!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
What an awesome group of oatmeal toppings. Yum!
Jess says
One thing I like about going to dietetics events is that whomever is in charge of the breakfast table usually understands that folks need real food in the morning! I’m sorry, but I just can’t get going on a sugary piece of danish or coffee cake—it would just put me right back to sleep!
Sounds like you have a great day planned!
Britt says
I’ve never heard that mucus in the GI track is bad for you? Interesting. From what I’ve learned (can you tell I just studied for a college-level biology exam? :D), mucus is already secreted into the lining of your stomach as protection against all that HCl floating around in there. For that matter, it helps to protect the epithelial cell lining for a lot of organ systems in your body. It’s not bad at all.
I personally just stick with your average milk, cheese, and yogurt–probiotic drinks & other fermented “exotic” foods strike me as just a fad. (Although I have to admit that kefir has been growing on me, provided I can throw plenty of fruit and granola on top. Yum!)
Kath says
Makes sense about the HCl!
Samantha says
So happy that you get to blog freely about how you are spending your day and share info with us : )
Jenny says
Thanks for the update! I’d say our crowd is pretty knowledgeable about Twitter and Facebook:) See you around lunchtime!
Emily J says
Hi Kath! I’m interested to hear what you learn at the lactose intolerance talk, as my husband is severely lactose intolerant. I’ve been thinking about asking how school cafeterias deal with that ever since you made that delicious oatmeal for a school breakfast, but it contained milk. What about those who cannot eat dairy? Thanks! Hope you’re having fun:)
Emily @ The Front Burner Blog says
Ooohh so glad you ended up with a good breakfast option! Crossing my fingers for you that lunch is just as nutritious 🙂 Save some room for FROZEN YOGURT tonight!!
Crystal says
The Yakult drink is laughable! I work in a wellness clinic and a rep. for them brought in about 100 samples for us to give away to our members, and I hate to say but they ended up in the garbage! The first ingredients were water, sugar, more sugar, and skim milk powder plus 1 pro-biotic! GROSS! We all voted and decided to … stick to REAL FOOD!
Cole says
Interesting info on probiotics. Thanks!
Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) says
Look at all those toppings — what a perfect way to start the morning. 😀
Jil says
Interesting! (Glad you’re having a good time!) The mucus thing is really interesting (weird to say that about mucus…haha) but it totally makes sense. The only time ever heard of not drinking dairy because of mucus was in chorus and our director told us to never drink it before a performance…because of the mucus, obvs. 🙂
Midgetkeeper says
Looks like a great hotel breakfast and interesting information. Have a great day!
Tina says
You have totally made me want to try Great Harvest muffins! There’s a store very near me, and although I’ve had their bread many times (and LOVED it), I’ve never given their muffins a try. Hopefully it’ll happen soon 🙂
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
that’s really interesting about the probiotic talk! makes me want to go research that subject more. i’ll take in some sunshine for ya…til it rains at least 😉
Sara says
Yeah I’ve tried those Yakult things before- not a fannn! I’ll stick to my Kefir and yoghurt 🙂
Lisa C. says
“this close” to becoming a true RD, Kath! The conference sounds great!
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
I’m always scared at conference breakfasts too. I often pack my own meal too. But I’m glad that they had a fun spread for you today 🙂
Blaine says
Just to throw in another consideration, milk is quite acidifying to your system and though it has calcium in it, studies have proven that dairy actually causes mineral leaching from your bones to balance the acidification effect. So basically, milk does NOT build strong bones! It’s been shown that people who consume the greater amounts of milk products have the highest incidences of osteoporosis and bone breakage. Sad!
I love to get my probiotics from fermented foods like sauerkraut and kombucha! 🙂
Diana says
Very interesting info. 🙂 Have a great rest of saturday Kath!
Sarah Snacks says
It’s funny how “controversial” milk is- even in the nutrition community. That sounds really interesting to me- I love that kind of stuff!
Stacey@http://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ says
I think the oatmeal with the toppings was made for you. Usually it’s just sugar, nuts, or raisins. I like how you had backup food. I think that’s so important when you go someplace unknown.
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
OMGOSH I used to guzzle those probiotic drinks when I was little. My grandma would buy a pack of ~30 and I would go to TOWN. I used to poke a little hole in the foil top with a toothpick and drink it like that…I was a weird child 🙂
rebekah (clarity in creation.) says
kath – do you know anything about lactase pills for the lactoes intolerant?
i’ve been lactose intolerant for years and just dealt with the consequences, and if i take a lactase now, i’m fine! thoughts?
-r
Kath says
I don’t know much about them, but I imagine they would work quite well?!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
The oatmeal, while maybe not the best, was a nice surprise…I’m sure! Very nice of you to share the muffin! Can’t wait to hear what you learn about the lactose intolerance! I can’t even take those pills…they don’t help! Have fun!
Camille says
That oatmeal buffet looks delicious! I wish I had one of those set out for me every morning… that is the stuff that dreams are made of 🙂
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
I’m all for probiotics, but when I’m sick I feel 10 times more sensitive to the mucus formed by dairy 🙁 I hear that’s quite common actually Then I usually turn to soy or coconut milk probiotes
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
Wow– that mucus thing is really interesting! I feel like I’m reading all the time about how BAD mucus from dairy is for you.
Sometimes it just seems like you can’t win 🙂
Sarah says
I’ve heard this too on probiotics. Actually my 18 month old son recently had a bad stomach bug and the peds nurse recommended feeding him yogurt 3 times a day to “heal his gut!”. It worked like a charm and as a bonus, he now loves yogurt!
Kerry says
I did a short paper on probiotics for a class a couple of years ago, but one thing I remember is that because there are different marketing names and scientific names for the specific strains of bacteria, it can be tough to track down the right studies.
Thought of you when I went to GH today for a loaf of honey whole wheat, the store was jammed with people!
Dana says
Hi Kath,
Just read this and wondered what your thoughts are?!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/agave-this-sweetener-is-f_b_537936.html
Kath says
That’s been brought to my attention many times. My response is always: sugar is sugar! Always in moderation.
Leena says
wow! thanks for the info! very interesting!
Simply Life says
what a fun breakfast!
Ashley says
Whole Foods has an oatmeal bar in the AM that I can’t wait to try. You can get polenta, steel cut, or 1 other..can’t think. Then of course a SLEW of topping..mmmm oatmeal 😉 I know you had a long week but hope today was fun!!
Hannah says
Oooh, I really need to be taking probiotics rights now… I’m on hardcore antibiotics and will be for at least another fortnight. Need to stock up on yogurt! (Normally I’d have it in the house, but I’m just back from four months travelling overseas!)
Wei-Wei says
Heyy Kath!
I’m a long-time lurker, but I just HAD to comment when I saw that probiotic drink you had…
That drink, Yakult, is a childhood memory of mine, and it goes WAAAAY back to even being a childhood memory of my mom! I used to love that drink and it’s a classic where I come from (Taiwan) and I still do buy it sometimes… although I do realize that even though it’s supposed to be really good for you with all the probiotics and stuff that it basically really is just sugar water 🙁
I think it was originally from Japan… the little 100ml shaped bottles with the foil coverings are such an iconic symbol of my childhood! My grandfather taught me to poke two holes in the foil lid so that when I drank from one hole, my lips wouldn’t get suckered in and I would be able to guzzle more quickly 😀
I hope you found it tasty though 🙂
rachel says
I randomly decided to try a probiotic one day and it has DRAMATICALLY improved my IBS symptoms. I still can’t really believe how much it has helped…if I miss even day of taking them, my symptoms get worse..